Janet Devlin was “riding around on a horse in London” when the titular track from her brand-new album Emotional Rodeo entered the Official Big Top 40 chart, establishing itself as one of biggest songs from the last seven days.
The track sees Devlin move away from the folk-pop sound for which she became renowned after appearing on The X Factor in 2011, venturing into the unbridled world of country music.
“It’s been in my 10-year plan forever,” she laughs.
“I knew I wanted to get into country but then lockdown happened so that pushed me back, but I’ve been writing the album since 2021 so it’s been a long time coming.”
Devlin, originally from Gortin, Co Tyrone, travelled to the iconic Blackbird Studio in Nashville to begin recording the album which she describes a real “pinch me moment”.
“For me it was really important to go out to Nashville and capture that classic country vibe but then also bring it back home and add in my own fairy dust so it wasn’t just another country album - it would still have my final touches on it.”
Country music has been experiencing a recent revival between the release of Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album and artists like Luke Combs becoming increasingly mainstream.
However, country music has been a staple for Irish music fans for generations and Devlin is no exception.
“I’ve listened to it all my life,” she enthuses.
“I used to get picked on in school because I was the horse girl who was listening to the same music as their granda, so I was an easy target.
“But I sort of rediscovered it and got back into bluegrass in about 2015 and then that just naturally led into listening to country music again.
“It’s always on in my car and on my playlists - I just have real passion for it.
“I’m not sure what it is that’s got it back into the mainstream recently but I’m glad because I really missed the early 2000s when we had the big country boom with the likes of Shania (Twain) – I was loving life.”
Although Devlin does admit she has been accused of “jumping on the bandwagon”.
“I’ve been planning this for donkey’s years,” she explains.
“Writing and releasing a song is way more involved than people think. The best analogy I can think of is of the swan swimming – it looks all elegant and graceful but beneath the water its little legs are paddling away full speed.
“It’s a lot of work and it’s a bit sad because I should’ve released one or two songs last year but because they were pushed back, I’ve kind of come after Beyoncé.
“People think I am just jumping on the bandwagon but it takes a lot of money to get things like this done really quickly and I don’t have the money to do that. I just picked a weird time.”
Devlin has produced a completely different sound to the current country artists on the scene. Blending her Irish roots with the vigour of country rock, she is influenced by her time playing in a céilí band as a child; a fiddle features prominently throughout the track alongside driving guitars and drums.
There’s also a distinct difference in styles; tracks like Beyoncé's Texas Hold ‘Em and American Requiem feel quite superficial whereas there’s a vulnerability and rawness that comes through when listening to Emotional Rodeo.
“Even before I got diagnosed with BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder), when I would go on a date I’d appear quite quirky. But I’d have to say to them on the first date because I wanted to prepare them.
“So I’d explain I have BPD which means I’m an absolute nightmare whenever I like someone and I’m even worse whenever I love them.
“Then they’d always do that thing where they’d look at me and go, ‘Aw you’re not that bad’, and then a couple of months later they’re shocked by the fact my mental illness is showing – literally in the lyrics I say, ‘Hate to say I told you so’... but I did.
“It was really just a way of having a laugh with an unfortunate situation.
“I love taking ownership of my stuff especially things that are painful - I like taking them back and reclaiming them and making them fun. So for me, it’s a song for people who either have BPD or just love way too hard.”
The song has even received the approval of Hollywood star Russell Crowe, who Devlin supported on his tour across Australia and Europe .
“Russell heard most of the songs whenever we were on tour because I took them on the road to test them out,” she recalls.
“I went out in January last year and I did two gigs in the town where he lives and that’s where I thought it was going to end. I went home and carried on with the album and then got a text a little while later asking if I wanted to come on tour.
“He’s been nothing but nice to me. For example, everyone knows I’m a horse girl and the first time I went out to perform with him, he asked me if I wanted to take his horse out and go for a hack in the bush and I couldn’t put my Australian hat - that I can’t remember the name of - on fast enough.”
And their partnership is not over yet as Devlin will be back as a special guest at Crowe’s Dublin show on July 1 at the Gaiety Theatre.
Devlin’s third studio album is set to be released in the autumn; however she is keen to maximise the time between now and then.
“I like to drop a bunch of singles before I drop an album – they’re like my favourite children, I like to give them some air time,” she laughs.
“Because once you drop an album, it’s out. It’s really hard to explain that release day feeling because you’re excited but you’re also left wondering what’s next.
“There’s so much manpower that goes into it and I don’t want to let anyone down so I always want to make sure I’m doing everything I can and trying my best.”
Between making its way into the UK Top 40, going straight to number one in the Irish country music charts and currently sitting at number three on in the iTunes country charts, Emotional Rodeo is Devlin’s biggest hit to date.
“We haven’t had a win like this in so long, so it’s great because I’ve been working with my management for over 10 years, and it was just amazing to get that wee pat on the back for all of us.
@janetdevlinofficial HELP I WASNT PREPARED!!!!!!
♬ original sound - Janet Devlin
“It has been a long time coming but I feel like it would’ve almost been wasted on me a few years ago because I was still struggling with my mental health. I was really stressed when I was releasing music before whereas now if something does well I can actually put my best foot forward for the first time.”
